Full-Time Child Advocate Social Worker, Support Center for Child Advocates

Posted by Support Center for Child Advocates on July 14, 2014

The Support Center for Child Advocates (Child Advocates) a full-time CHILD ADVOCATE SOCIAL WORKER to serve the agency’s Core Program on Child Protection. Work for a premier child advocacy program. Experience multidisciplinary practice of lawyers and social workers, outstanding staff collegiality, and commitment to quality service.

Agency: Child Advocates is Philadelphia’s volunteer lawyer program for abused and neglected children, providing legal and social service advocacy, through the service of volunteer attorneys, paralegal and legal assistants, working in conjunction with staff social workers, attorneys and other staff. Child Advocates seeks to protect children by securing social services, finding alternative homes and helping them testify in court. For all of the children committed to our care, we work to ensure safety, health, education, family permanency and access to justice. Systemically, we promote collaborative, multi-disciplinary casework and solutions to recurrent problems. For the community, we provide educational programs to increase awareness about the problems of and ways to prevent child abuse. Whenever possible, Child Advocates seeks to maintain children and families in their own homes. Respected for diligent and effective advocacy throughout its more than 30 years of service, Child Advocates attorneys and social workers move public systems to deliver entitled services and private systems to open their doors to needy children and their families.

Position Summary: Direct service social work for child victims of abuse and neglect, in model of lawyer-social worker collaboration. Team with volunteer attorneys from the Philadelphia legal community to serve a caseload of approximately 60 children. Child Advocate teams conduct home visits, analyze records, initiate child protective proceedings, maintain contact with all other professionals serving the child and family, train volunteer attorneys and attend and participate in court hearings. Other typical tasks include: accompanying children to court and supporting child witnesses throughout court testimony; arranging evaluations of children, family members and prospective caretakers; advocating for special school placements and treatment needs; providing victim assistance; and applying for victim compensation (VCAP).

Qualifications: M.S.W. preferred, other similar or joint degrees welcome. Spanish-language proficiency, familiarity with child welfare & related issues preferred. Computer proficiency required (Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook). Experience with case management databases a plus. Salary: $40,000+ (based on experience). Benefits incl. health, disability & life insurance, 401-K, cafeteria plan for dependent care expenses, and generous leave program.

Posted on: July 1, 2014

http://www.idealist.org/view/job/wN4D76HNXh8d